Abstract: A compound of the structure is described. This compound and its use for preparing medicines useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders is described.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated protein kinase polypeptides related to novel brain-localized protein kinases homologous to known homeodomain-interacting protein kinases (HIPKs), isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode these polypeptides, inhibitors, and methods related thereto. The novel polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules of the invention are termed HIPK4. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors, host cells, and transgenic animals comprising the novel nucleic acid molecules of the invention. The invention additionally provides antisense and RNAi molecules to the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, as well as inhibitors, activators, and antibodies capable of binding to the protein kinase polypeptides of the invention. The invention further provides uses of HIPK4 and its inhibitors, e.g., mutants of HIPK4 lacking protein kinase activity, for modulation of apoptosis, as well as the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders and cancers.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated and purified polynucleotides, polypeptides, and antibodies related to mammalian (e.g., mouse and human) legumain and the novel legumain splice variant, ZB-1. The invention further relates to the use of these isolated and purified polynucleotides, polypeptides, and antibodies, as well as other legumain and ZB-1 agonists and antagonists, in modulating legumain and/or ZB-1 activity, expression, and/or secretion in a cell or cell population, e.g., monocytes, macrophages, foam cells, vascular endothelial cells, kidney proximal tubule cells, arterial endothelial cells, sites of inflammatory cell invasion into a vessel intima, and neointimal lesional areas of an artery. The invention also provides legumain and ZB-1 antagonists, e.g., antagonistic small molecules, antibodies and antibody fragments to legumain and ZB-1, legumain and ZB-1 inhibitory polypeptides, and legumain and ZB-1 inhibitory polynucleotides.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, y, n, m, p, and Ar are as defined, and described in classes and subclasses herein, which are agonists or partial agonists of the 2C subtype of brain serotonin receptors. The compounds, and compositions containing the compounds, can be used to treat a variety of central nervous system disorders such as schizophrenia.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for producing a solution containing high molecular weight isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides having phosphodiester linkages between saccharide repeat units. In certain methods, CO2 is supplied to a fermentation culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterial cells that produce capsular polysaccharide serotypes containing phosphodiester linkages between saccharide repeat units. Exemplary Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes containing a phosphodiester linkage between saccharide repeat units include serotypes 6A, 6B, 19A, and 19F. Supplying CO2 to the fermentation culture includes adding bicarbonate ions to the fermentation culture, adding carbonate ions to the fermentation culture, adding mixtures of bicarbonate and carbonate ions to the fermentation culture, and overlaying the fermentation culture with CO2.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for producing a solution containing high molecular weight isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae 19A capsular polysaccharides. In certain methods, a fermentation culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterial cells that produce serotype 19A capsular polysaccharides is fermented for less than 6 hours before the bacterial cells are lysed the capsular polysaccharides are harvested. In other methods, CO2 is supplied to the fermentation culture. Supplying CO2 to the fermentation culture includes adding bicarbonate ions to the fermentation culture, adding carbonate ions to the fermentation culture, adding mixtures of bicarbonate and carbonate ions to the fermentation culture, and overlaying the fermentation culture with CO2.

Abstract: The genome sequences and the nucleotide sequences coding for the PWD circovirus polypeptides, such as the circovirus structural and non-structural polypeptides, vectors including the sequences, and cells and animals transformed by the vectors are provided. Methods for detecting the nucleic acids or polypeptides, and kits for diagnosing infection by a PWD circovirus, also are provided. Method for selecting compounds capable of modulating the viral infection is further provided. Pharmaceutical, including vaccines, compositions for preventing and/or treating viral infections caused by PWD circovirus and the use of vectors for preventing and/or treating diseases also are provided.

Abstract: The expression of the lipidated form of the peptidoglycan-associated protein (PAL) of gram-negative bacteria is achieved through the use of a plasmid containing a tightly regulated promoter. A bacterial host cell is transformed, transduced or transfected with such a plasmid. The host cell is then cultured under conditions such that the lipidated recombinant PAL is expressed. The lipidated recombinant PAL is included in an antigenic composition administered to a mammalian host to immunize against a gram-negative bacterium.

Abstract: The genome sequences and the nucleotide sequences coding for the PWD circovirus polypeptides, such as the circovirus structural and non-structural polypeptides, vectors including the sequences, and cells and animals transformed by the vectors are provided. Methods for detecting the nucleic acids or polypeptides, and kits for diagnosing infection by a PWD circovirus, also are provided. Method for selecting compounds capable of modulating the viral infection are further provided. Pharmaceutical, including vaccine, compositions for preventing and/or treating viral infections caused by PWD circovirus and the use of vectors for preventing and/or treating diseases also are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds which bind VLA-4. Certain of these compounds also inhibit leukocyte adhesion and, in particular, leukocyte adhesion mediated by VLA-4. Such compounds are useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases in a mammalian patient, e.g., human, such as asthma, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, AIDS dementia, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, tissue transplantation, tumor metastasis and myocardial ischemia. The compounds can also be administered for the treatment of inflammatory brain diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: The genome sequences and the nucleotide sequences coding for the PWD circovirus polypeptides, such as the circovirus structural and non-structural polypeptides, vectors including the sequences, and cells and animals transformed by the vectors are provided. Methods for detecting the nucleic acids or polypeptides, and kits for diagnosing infection by a PWD circovirus, also are provided. Method for selecting compounds capable of modulating the viral infection are further provided. Pharmaceutical, including vaccines, compositions for preventing and/or treating viral infections caused by PWD circovirus and the use of vectors for preventing and/or treating diseases also are provided.

Abstract: A stick lip balm with efficacious amounts of natural moisturizer and organoleptic/sensory attributes of lip feel associated with moisturizers and emollients is provided. The lip balm of the invention comprises at least 90% botanically derived materials and can be formed into a stick sufficiently robust to substantially retain the stick shape under normal conditions of shipping, storage and usage. A method of making the stick lip balm is also provided.

Abstract: A method of selectively preparing a chiral 2S-amino alcohol useful in preparation of an amide sulfonated or acylated with alkyl, substituted aryl or substituted heteroaryl is described. The method involves reacting a di-tert-butyl diazene-1,2-dicarboxylate with a (4S)-4-benzyl-3-[(S)-trifluoromethyl-alkyl substituted alkanoyl]-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one to afford a di-tert-butyl 1-(1S,2S)-([(4S)-4-benzyl-2-oxo-1,3-oxazolidine-3-yl]-carbonyl}-trifluoromethyl-alkyl substituted alkyl)hydrazine-1,2-dicarboxylate. This dicarboxylate is then reduced to yield di-tert-butyl 1-(1S,2S)-[trifluoromethyl-alkyl substituted alkyl]hydrazine-1-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2-dicarboxylate. The resulting product is deblocked with an acid to yield the acid addition salt of (2S,3S)-trifluoro-hydrazino-methyl alkan-1-ol. The acid addition salt of (2S,3S)-trifluoro-2-hydrazino-methyl alkan-1-ol is hydrogenated in the presence of a suitable metal catalyst to yield the amino alcohol (2S,3S)-2-amino-trifluoro-methyl alkan-1-ol HCl.

Abstract: Modified and stabilized propeptides of Growth Differentiation Factor proteins, such as GDF-8 and Bone Morphogenetic Protein-11, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for making and using the modified propeptides to prevent or treat human or animal disorders in which an increase in muscle tissue would be therapeutically beneficial. Such disorders include muscle or neuromuscular disorders (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, muscle atrophy, congestive obstructive pulmonary disease, muscle wasting syndrome, sarcopenia, or cachexia), metabolic diseases or disorders (such as such as type 2 diabetes, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, or obesity), adipose tissue disorders (such as obesity), and bone degenerative diseases (such as osteoporosis).

Abstract: Compounds useful for lowering beta amyloid levels are provided. The compounds have the structure of formula Ia: wherein, R1 is lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, benzyl, substituted benzyl, benzyloxy, substituted benzyloxy, or SO2R5; R5 is phenyl, substituted phenyl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle, alkyl, or substituted alkyl; R2 is lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, CF3, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, or cycloalkyl; R3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, or substituted lower alkyl; R4 is phenyl, substituted phenyl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle, thiophene, or substituted thiophene; R6 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, CF3, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, cycloalkyl, or substituted cycloalkyl; W, X and Y are independently CR7 or N; and R7 is hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl, or substituted lower alkyl.

Abstract: Compositions comprising antigen binding polypeptides that bind specifically to Receptor For Advanced Glycation End-product (RAGE) and comprises: one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) with improved binding efficiency over a parental monoclonal antibody to RAGE are described. Antibodies containing the CDR's and methods of treating a RAGE-related disease or disorder comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the compositions of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating T helper (Th) cell development and function using modulators of IL-21, e.g., human IL-21, activity or level.

Abstract: The disclosure provides novel antibodies against growth and differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8), including antibody fragments, which inhibit GDF-8 activity in vitro and in vivo. The disclosure also provides methods for diagnosing, preventing, or treating degenerative disorders of muscle, bone, or insulin metabolism.

Abstract: The present invention provides an amino-pyridine compound of formula I The present invention also provides methods for the use thereof to inhibit ?-secretase (BACE) and treat ?-amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles.

Abstract: The invention relates to benzimidazole acetic acid compounds which function as antagonists of the Chemoattractant Receptor-homologous molecule expressed on T-Helper type 2 cells (CRTH2) receptor. The invention also relates to the use of these compounds to inhibit the binding of prostaglandin D2 and its metabolites or certain thromboxane metabolites to the CRTH2 receptor and to treat disorders responsive to such inhibition.